Virgin’s Bower – Native Plant of the Day 08/12/2024
Photo from 8/13/2013. Location: Walker County, Ga.
More info / photos at the Clematis virginiana detail page.
Virgin’s Bower – Clematis virginiana
Also NPOD 08/21/2014, 08/21/2015, 08/21/2016, 08/12/2017, 08/12/2018, 08/12/2019, 08/12/2020, 08/12/2021, 08/12/2022, 08/12/2023
I searched a long time before I think I have finally found the answer. I believe my vine is Clematis Virginiana. Do you agree? I handled it very carefully because I first thought it was a rare Poison Ivy. Is it poisonous? I want to cut it, but need to know before I do.
I tried to copy and paste a picture here, but couldn’t do it. So I will describe it. Each stem has 3 leaves at the end of stem and two leaves directly across the stem before you get to the 3 leaves. The stem is purple and has vertical ridges. It is a real climber and a nuisance. It has climbed a tall tree. It produces those fluffy white blooms that I don’t like. I assume those blooms contain seed.
On the states that you show my state is not listed. You can add Washington State.
I also have another plant in the same family I believe. It is Ranunculaceae ranunculoideae. It has a beautiful small yellow flower.
That is more likely Western Virgin’s Bower – Clematis ligusticifolia. Typically Clematis virginiana will have 3 leaflets rather than 5. Another possibility is Clematis ternifolia, a non-native, invasive which was not listed for Washington, but has possibly spread to that state. All of these have similar white flowers and produce the fluffy seed heads.